It is said that the Nagahama Hikiyama Matsuri (festival) started over 400 years ago in order to celebrate the birth of the son of Hideyoshi Toyotomi a local warlord. Ever since locals in Nagahama city have worked hard to maintain this massive gorgeous Hikiyama floats as a matter […]
Read more
There are hundreds of types of traditional dances in Japan, and Awa Odori is one of the best-known ones. Originated in Tokushima, it is now enjoyed and danced hundreds of thousands of performers across Japan. [...]
Read more
Bon Odori is a Japanese traditional folkloric dance. Bon Odori, which has a history of approximately 1,000 years. Actually, this Folkloric dance is for worshiping ancestors in the “Bon season” (July-August) derived from Buddhism, and there are more than 1,000 different types of dance nationwide in Japan [...]
Read more
Every second Sunday in March, the Takaosan Yakuoin Buddhist temple holds a unique fire-walking festival known as the Hiwatari-Sai Matsuri where Yamabushi monks display the depth of their faith and asceticism by walking barefoot over smoldering coals, the remains of the matsuri sacred fire.
Read more
Used for centuries by local fisherman living on the Ogi Peninsula, Hangiri are simple washtub boats made of cedar and bamboo grown on Sado Island. While Hangiri are no longer used by fisherman, it is still possible to enjoy a little “Hangiri” ride at different locations around Sado Island! [..]
Read more
One of Sado Island’s attractions, besides its many beautiful temples and it’s gorgeous landscape, is the many Noh (Japanese traditional play) that are actually performed by local villagers in some of the many temples of the Island. Here unlike many other places in Japan […]
Read more
Also known as Chichibu Yomatsuri, the Chichibu Night Festival is the festival of the Chichibu Shrine in Chichibu. It’s just over 150 km away from central Tokyo and is considered as one of Japan’s top three festivals to feature both majestic floats and fireworks. [...]
Read more
Essential to Japanese cuisine, shoyu, or soy sauce originated from the city of Yuasa in Wakayama. Legend has it that in the 13th century, the Zen Buddhist monk Shinichi Kakushin discovered the wonders of soy sauce totally by accident while making kinzanji miso, a type of bean paste. [...]
Read more
Located in the city of Sakkai in Osaka prefecture, JIKKO Kitchen Knives Cutlery is one of the best and most famous companies for anyone looking for the finest Japanese cutlery. JIKKO started relatively recently in 1901. Sakkai has been known for the past 600 years for its knife craftwork […]
Read more
Japan is full of amazing small and unique matsuris, or festivals. Kinusaki City Kebesu fire festival is by far one of the most interesting Matsuri we had the chance to see. [...]
Read more
Mitama Matsuri, first held in 1947, takes place annually at Yasukuni Shrine, and features around 30,000 lanterns. The purpose of this festival is to pray for the fallen soldiers of the past and for a more peaceful world. [...]
Read more
Less “violent” than the Okoshi Daiko, the first part of the Hida Furukawa Matsuri, the festival floats parade, known as Yatai, includes the display of nine beautifully decorated festival floats moving through Furukawa. Each Yatai is carried and taken care of by each of the Hida Furukawa city factions […]
Read more
